Multiple purpose cleaning tool



May 12, 1959 R. c. LAMPE MULTIPLE PURPOSE CLEANING TOOL 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 14, 1955 INVENTOR Robert 6. Lam be May 12, 1959 R, QLAMPE 2,885,717

MULTIPLE PURPOSE CLEANING TOOL Filed Feb. 14, 1955 s sheets-sheet 2 I w X Q I I l J? .92) I INVENTOR Robert C. Lam be y 1959 R. c. LAMPE 2,885,717

MULTIPLE PURPOSE CLEANING T0\OL Filed Feb. 14, 1955 s'sheets-sheet s 5 a; I .1 0 i /9 T a M g /a/ 22/ 65 l i Z// /0 46 so 42 L/ M? INVENTOR v g5 Robert CZampe /Z Zfl J3 J2 yukvATTORNEY MULTELE POSE CLEANING TOOL Robert C. Lampe, Stamford, Conn., assignor to Electrolux Corporation, Old Greenwich, Conn, a corporation of Delaware Application February 14, 1955, Serial No. 487,800

Claims. (Cl. 15417) This invention relates to multiple purpose cleaning tools for use with a conventional tank or similar suction type vacuum cleaner. More particularly, it embraces such double purpose tools as those having two different types of surface contacting structures which can be selectively put into cleaning and operating position at the option of the operator and without disconnection from the cleaner.

Usually different kinds of surfaces necessitate different types of nozzle structures for their most effective cleaning. Thus a dusting brush and a rug nozzle are much more effective when used on the surfaces for which they are specifically suited. A dusting brush is best adapted for use on hard surface cleaning operations such as floors, wooden chairs and the like, whereas a rug nozzle is more useful for cleaning soft surfaces, such as vile rugs, velvet curtains, upholstery and such surfaces.

Very often in a routine cleaning operation a fast switch from rug to floor brush and vice versa is necessary. The tool of this invention makes just such a rapid switching operation possible. Preferably, such a tool should be as low as possible in order to effect easy accessibility under low furniture, beds, sofas, chairs and the like. Of the numerous swivel type nozzles heretofore designed, such tools have almost invariably been excessively high in cross-section and cumbersome, especially, when one member thereof has been a floor brush.

In accordance with this invention, the body of the tool is wedge-shaped and tapering from back to front with the back portion thick enough to receive a swivel suction connecting member for use with a wand or hose in order to connect a suction air current to the cleaning tool. The opposite faces of the tool taper towards each other from the thick rear portion until at the front or nose portion the tool is so thin that it can be readily inserted under low furniture or into narrow spaces it would be impossible to reach otherwise.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cleaning tool which is so constructed that a valve member, rotatably or slidably mounted therein so facilitates the ready change-over from one type of nozzle to another type of nozzle that removal of the tool from its suction conduit or wand is unnecessary.

Various other and further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description when taken together with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and in which;

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of this invention, showing a cleaning tool with its rug cleaning nozzle opening in operative position;

Figure 2 is a rear view, partially in section, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the nozzle shown in Fig. 1;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figs. 1 and 5;

Figure 5 is a partial view of a section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, with a part of the swivel shown in full view;

Figure 6 is a sectional view of a part of the valve member of the cleaner tool taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a rotary type of valve member used in the embodiment shown in the preceding figures;

Figure 8 is a rear view, somewhat similar to that of Fig. 2, but showing an alternative embodiment of the invention;

Figure 9 is a partial cross-section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8 showing the sliding valve member;

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9; and

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 11-41 of Fig. 9 with the floor brush in position and the valve member moved over to floor brush operating position and showing the complete freedom of rotation without constriction of passages on the part of the mounting swivel.

In accordance with this invention, the cleaning tool comprises a main connector elbow for readily attaching the tool to a wand or vacuum cleaner suction hose. Preferably, the connector elbow is swiveled for free movement around 360 in a supporting collar. The tool portion itself comprises a main nozzle member wedge-shaped and formed with dissimilar surface contacting structures on different angularly disposed faces, i.e., on the opposite tapering sides thereof. The nozzle portion itself is really a base member having one side (for example) formed as a surface contacting structure for use on a pile rug, while the other side is formed as a surface contacting structure for use on a bare floor. Either one of these nozzles may be placed in operative position on the supporting tool without removal therefrom by merely rotating the nozzle 180, and throwing the valve member over to its appropriate opening. The nozzle openings are connected by separate channels leading through the base member and terminating at separate openings con trolled by a slidably or rotatably mounted valve member. The valve member is mounted at the junction of the separate channels and a main suction passageway communicating directly with the swivel elbow.

Although in the embodiment illustrated a floor brush forms one cleaning structure and a rug cleaning nozzle forms another cleaning structure, various other purposeful cleaning structures may be put into similarly selective combination with each other to make up the dual nozzle member.

Referring now with greater detail to the drawings, reference character 10 designates generally a preferred embodiment of an improved dual purpose nozzle made in accordance with the present disclosure. This tool'is wedge-shaped and has dissimilar surface contacting structures thereon in the form of a floor brush 12 and a rug nozzle 14. The tool 10 comprises a number of individual parts among which is a die casting or plastic casting 16, Fig. 1, having secured to its upper face a metal stamping 20 provided with a centrally disposed throat or channel opening 22 and is secured to the casting 16 by screws 24.

The brush elements in the form of strips of bristles 32 are secured in a fiat metal channel 33 which-is held securely in channels 26 formed longitudinally or lengthwise along the edges of stamping 20, Figs. 4, 10 and 11. Channels 26 fit securely in grooves 28 formed in casting 16. Thus, the floor brush portion of the cleaning tool is made up of stamping 20 together with the strips of bristles 32.

The adjoining face 14 of casting 16 includes elements making up the rug nozzle.v In addition to the conventional lips, ribbed portions and the like, the rug nozzle 14 comprises a rod 40, cylindrical in shape having teeth 42 formed on one side thereof and being held in place by means of pads 44, Fig. 3.

Each nozzle has its individual suction passageway in casting 16. Thus the floor brush 12 has an opening or throat 22, Figs. 1, 4 and 11, which connects directly to channel 50 to opening 52, Fig. 5, formed in a third face of casting 16 intermediate the back portions of floor brush 52 and 64 are of the same size and shape but positioned on opposite sides of a dividing partition 65.

A connector to a source of suction is provided which comprises a body member 81 having a centralpassageway 82 which has an increased internal diameter so as to register with both openings 52 and 64. Rotatably mounted in the outer part of passageway 82 is a conically-shaped valve member 90, Fig. 7, having a skirt 91 which surrounds the outer edge 84 of body member 81. Valve member 90 is formed with a port 92 in the conical surface as well as in the smaller end portion of the member, thus providing a much larger area for the port than would be possible if the valve were a flat disc of the same diameter, and the diameter of the valve is limited by the height of the nozzle body. The outer surface of skirt 91 is knurled, as is shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 7.

Recesses 95, 95a in the skirt 91 serve as holding means which cooperate with a spring pressed detent 100, Fig. 4, to hold the valve in either of two preselected positions.

A collar 110, Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5, is provided with cut away portions 110a and 11% through which knurled skirt 91 of valve 90 protrudes for finger-thumb valve actuation. Wing portions 1100 and 110d serve as fastening means of screws 111. Collar 110 also serves as the holding means for swiveled connector 120 which is held therein by a spring clip ring 121.

In the position of the parts shown in Fig. 5, the rotatable valve member 90 is so positioned that swivel connector 120 communicates through the port 92 with the channel 62 leading to the rug nozzle. The detent 100 engages one of the recesses, such as 95a, in collar 91 to hold the valve in its selected position. The remaining portion 94 of the cup-shaped valve member 90 serves to seat ofi channel 50 from communication with the suction air stream.

By rotating the tool 180 about its swivel mounting on connecting swivel member 120, and then, by turning valve 90 180 so that detent 100 engages recess 95 in collar 91, port 92 establishes suction communication between 82 and channel 50 leading to the floor brush nozzle. At the same time sealing portion 94 of valve 90 closes off suction communication with channel 62 leading to the rug nozzle. With this type of nozzle the operator can readily shift from floor to rug nozzle without removing the dual type nozzle from the wand all with a minimum of effort.

The modification of the invention shown embodied in Figs. 8 through 11, inclusive, is somewhat similar to that shown in the previous diagrams. Here, a slide type valve 190 shown in full lines in Figs. 8 and 9 as in position for use of the tool as a rug nozzle, has a port 192 which is so positioned as to connect passageway 182 with channel 62 leading to the rug nozzle. This slide valve requires less height of the nozzle body than would a circular rotatable disc type of'valve.

The valve mounting member 181 has a slot 185 cut in its mounting surface on nozzle body 16 in order to accommodate sliding valve 190. In the position shown in full lines in Fig. 9, valve 190 seals the opening to channel 50 so that no suction is communicated to the floor brush 12. Member 181 is held in position by long screws 211. The inner bore 187 of valve mounting member 181 is shaped to receive the long end of swivel conduit 120 which is held in place by spring clip 221.and collar 210 which latter is secured in place on member 181 by screws 212.

With the fiat wedge-shaped tool of this invention it is clear that the height or thickness of the tool, particularly at the front edge thereof is such that it can be used under objects having rather extremely small clearance from the floor or rug. Furthermore the tool is much smaller than the conventional cleaning nozzle while still retaining its maximum height at the rear end thereof in order to accommodate a standard size suction conduit. Due to the fact that the valve for connecting the respective nozzles to the source of suction, that is either the rotary valve or the slide valve 190, is independent of swivel elbow 120, the latter may be turned to any position without interfering with the desired fiow of air. Thus, elbow may be turned through 90 either way from the position shown in Figs. 4 and 10 so that the suction pipe connected thereto will extend parallel to the floor, thus permitting the tool to be manipulated under low furniture, or it may be turned through to the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 11 in order to be usable for cleaning above the operator, such as moldings, tops of door frames or the like.

It is to be understood that the examples given are merely illustrative and not limitative of the invention the scope of which is to be determined solely by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a suction tool, a generally wedge-shaped transversely elongated body having opposite converging faces normally extending substantially horizontally, dissimilar suction nozzle structure on the respective faces, a suction conduit connector elbow rotatably secured to the wider side of said body between said faces, valve means in said body including a valve chamber communicating at one end with said elbow and having upper and lower wall portions converging towards the opposite end of the chamher, said opposite end communicating with horizontally spaced passages leading to the respective nozzle structures, the openings to said passages which communicate with said valve being spaced apart in a transverse direction and being substantially at the same level, and a valve member in the form of a truncated cone having its base disposed at said one end of said chamber and its truncated portion disposed at said opposite end, said valve member being formed with a port in the conical and truncated portions thereof and being rotatable for selectively establishing communication between said elbow and either of said passages.

2. A suction cleaner tool comprising a wedge-shaped body having oppositely disposed dissimilar converging work faces providing suction nozzles with a passageway from each terminating in separate horizontally elongated openings arranged end to end in substantial alignment at another face, a connection extending from said body to a source of suction, a valve structure in said connection behind and substantially external to said body and including a valve housing fixed to said body and a movable valve located in said housing, said movable valve having an opening adapted in one position to register with one of said horizontally elongated openings and in another position to register with the other of said horizontally elongated openings.

3. The structure of claim 2 in which said body is of an overall thickness to receive said connection to a source of suction and being limited substantially to such thickness so that said tool is of minimum height and usable under relatively low objects.

4. The structure of claim 2 in which said valve is rotatably mounted.

5. A suction cleaner tool comprising a body having oppositely disposed closely spaced suction nozzles with a passageway from each terminating in horizontally elongated openings arranged end to end in substantial alignment at the rear face of said body, a connection extending from said horizontally elongated openings at the rear face of said body to a source of suction, valve structure in said connection having a substantial portion of the same behind and external to said body and including a valve housing fixed to said body and a movable valve located in said housing, said movable valve having an opening adapted in one position to register with one of said horizontally elongated openings and in another position to register with the other of said horizontally elongated openings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Simpson July 11 1911 Reece Sept. 22, 1925 Banner Sept. 27, 1938 Edstrom Jan. 17, 1939 Lampe Dec. 16, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Feb. 17, 1937 Switzerland June 16, 1939 Great Britain June 20, 1947 

